May 2019 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV

OUT OF THE BELIEVER’S HEART

Regular Sunday Schedule

September - May

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service

11:30 am Fellowship Hour

Lord’s Supper—First Sunday

of each month

Church Office Hours

Monday - Friday

9:00 – 11:30 am

Church Office Hours

Monday - Friday

9:00 – 11:30 am

12:00 – 2:30 pm

Summer Sunday Schedule

June - August

10:00 am Worship Service

Nursery Care is available

on first floor during

Sunday Worship

THE SPRING GATHERING OF PRESBYTERIAN

WOMEN in the Presbytery was held on Saturday,

April 27, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church,

Brookings, SD with 35 women from all over the state

attending. Pastor Ann Spitzenberger lead the Service

of Worship with Communion and her message was

from John 7:38. Jeanne Jones Manzer, a member of

the grassroots group of citizens in Brookings

welcoming Latinos moving into the country,

presented the Message of Mission. Linda Barnett, a

PDA-PW Disaster Preparedness Trainer, presented

information on Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for

individuals, families, and congregations.

It started out with snow and ended with sunshine—

a perfect day!

THE BLADE

Published Monthly (June/July & December/January

combined)

First Presbyterian Church 405 7th Avenue

Brookings, SD 57006 (605) 692-2416

www.brookingspresbyterian.org presby@brookings.net

Session Members

Donna Flint (clerk), Dolores Canaday, Rick

Salonen, Susan Smith, Terry Spitzenberger,

Sue Young

Secretary Rozanne McGrath

presby@brookings.net

Newsletter Assembly

Volunteers led by Marlys Kelsey

For regular updates

and photos, like us on

Facebook

www.facebook.com/fpcbrookings

Our vision is to see lives changed through

joyful worship, supportive relationships,

faith formation, and heartfelt service

empowered by the mercy, grace, and love

of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Families

Prayer is an important part of our life as a community of faith. We encourage you to pray for the people listed each week during your time of daily prayer. May 5: Don Hildebrandt; Scott & Jennifer Hinricher and

family Skylar, Saige, Ramsie

May 12: Dean & Sharon Hofland, Nelda Holden, Dennis

Hopfinger & Carolyn Clague

May 19: Roger & Marvis Jenner, Carol Johnston, Robert & Jan

Jones

May 26: Marlys Kelsey, Daniel & Michele Kemp, Don

Kleinjan & Carol Glantz, Delores Koepsell

If you would like our team of prayer volunteers to be praying

for you or a loved one, please contact Jan Jones at 692-5325, Lee

Peterson at 692-7757, or the church office at 692-2416 who will

contact the prayer chain volunteers: Linda Barnett, Dolores

Canaday, Ann Douglas, Robby & Donna Flint, Bonnie Foster,

Bob & Jan Jones, Andrew L’Amour, Ella Lane, Lee Peterson,

Harold & Marge Poppen, Judy Smith, Susan Smith, Nancy

Thompson, and Richard Wilson. (Your concern will not go

beyond the prayer team unless you request it be shared with others)

“CONFIRMATION SUNDAY”

We will celebrate the confirmation of Saige Hinricher, Paige

Foster, Tia Glaus, Malia Glaus, Jolena Glaus, and Dylan

Scubelek on MAY 5 during the worship service led by the

students who will be confirmed by Ann Spitzenberger. A

reception will follow the worship service to welcome these

new members into our congregation.

Schedule Changes

Friends,

Many members of our congregation have asked-

“Why do we have a time change in the summer from 10:30 to 9:30?”

We know there was once a reason, but after some conversation, Session has decided that the reason may no

longer be here. With your surveys guiding our conversation, Session has decided that beginning in June, the

time for worship will change to 10:00 am. We will try this for the summer and see how we like it, then make a

decision later about the worship time beginning again in September. If you have any feedback as we try this

new time, please share with any member of Session.

Sincerely,

Your Session

• May 19th is the last Sunday for Sunday School which will resume on September 15.

• The church office will be closed on Memorial Day, May 27th.

Upcoming Events

MAY FRIENDSHIP DAY: Church Women United will celebrate May Friendship Day on May 3, 2019 at St.

Thomas More Catholic Parish at 12:00 noon with a salad luncheon and the program to follow. The theme for

this celebration is “The Time is Now! Agree to Differ.” May Friendship Day focuses on uniting us in the Spirit

to do God’s work despite our differences and based on the scripture of Ephesians 4:2-3 “Always be humble

and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make

every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” The Fellowship

of the Least Coin will be collected at this celebration. All Christian women and men are invited to this

gathering.

PRAYER QUILT SEWING DAY will be held on Saturday, May 11,

9:30-11:30 AM, in the quilt room on the main floor of the church.

Anyone interested in sewing or preparing quilts for tying is invited to

come and help. How do I get a prayer quilt for someone? The answer is

“Just Ask”. Prayer quilts can’t be bought; they are freely given along

with the prayers. Please contact Dolores Canaday, Nancy Thompson,

Bonnie Foster or Lee Peterson if any questions.

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he

will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Youth Rally

Allison & Emma Moerke, Lynn & Paige Foster, and Carol Ann, Tia & Malia Glaus along with Bonnie Foster attended the Youth Rally, March 29-31 in Pierre, SD. The theme for the rally this year was “LIFE”—the bible verse was “In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

Lynn Foster was selected to a 2-year term on the SD Presbyterian Youth Council. She will serve along with 11 other youth from across the state. PYC serves the Presby Youth in SD with connecting and planning the annual Youth Rally. Congratulations, Lynn!

This year’s Presbyterian Youth Council

Lynn is front left.

Team building exercise Energizers

HAND-CRAFTED CARDS

On April 3, this amazingly talented, creative and artistic group of Presbyterian youth made these fun, hand-crafted cards to be given to members of our congregation. These kids were given ideas on punch art and stamping and they just went with it! Hopefully, we can meet at least once a month and create more cards! I told them the story of how I got into art therapy/card making after Roger died. I also told them I make handmade cards for the Avera chemo therapy center (where Roger took treatment) here in Brookings. I told the kids that it makes me happy to be creative and it makes me happy to give back. So, they all thought it would be a great idea to give these cards to members of our congregation who might need a little lift and a smile.

Teri Bierstedt

Pillowcases for Children

Presbyterian Women of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies has a pillowcase project they would like help with. Many children on the reservations in South Dakota and Montana are taken into emergency foster care. Usually they are taken with no time to pack. In foster care they are given kits (PW also provides some of these kits) containing clothes and necessities. It is believed the pillowcases can be used to carry their belongings with them as they move either home or to more permanent foster care. Currently they carry their things in garbage bags. If you would like to decorate a pillowcase with love and hope for

a child, Linda Barnett will take it to the PW Synod Gathering in

Ames, IA. Since the meeting is the end of June, Linda would like

the pillowcases by June 16. They can be dropped off at the

church office.

If you need fabric markers, some are available at the church

office. You may check them out from Rozanne or better still use

them at the church. Thank you for your help!

Congratulations to Jon & Linda Greseth

on the arrival of daughter, Grace Congratulations to Nick & Suh Raskin

on the arrival of son, Finlay born 4/23/19

Thomas Cahill’s Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus is a

1999 gem of a read. A great example of historical narrative, this book examines the

real world that Jesus entered: its political dysfunction, social disparity, and rampant

injustice. Cahill explores Jesus’s life during this chaotic time as a “loving friend,

itinerant preacher, and quiet revolutionary” who would forever change how society

views humanity and diety.

One reviewer, Marcus Borg, called this book “A work of passion and piety…informed

by both imagination and historical scholarship.” Especially meaningful to my understanding of the text were the

maps and precious color plate reproductions of Christ’s image from ancient times.

This volume is on loan to our Church Library from my own collection. Please enjoy!

-Kay Norton

BATA Suspension for Summer

The BATA bus will not be providing bus transportation on weekends starting May 2019. Transportation to church services will be provided by the Deacons. Please call Ella Lane at 695-0342 for assistance with rides.

Food Pantry FPC collects items for the Food Pantry the first Sunday of every month. For the month of May this will be Sunday, May

5, 2019. The Food Pantry accepts all type of non-perishable food. I hope this note helps you (and me) to remember to

bring some items for the Brookings Food Pantry on Sunday, May 5. Thanks – Deacon Dan Kemp

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY, April 28, 2019

Gary Larson (Superintendent)

Susan Smith (Confirmation)

Chad and Dianne Broksieck (High School)

Mike McCann (Adult)

Donna Flint (Music)

CROSSTRAINING (K-5) Teachers:

Donna Flint

Bonnie Foster

Elizabeth Fox

Susan Smith

Carrie Van Buren

Sue Young

Shepherds:

Kay Norton

Donna Wilson

We would like to say a hearty “Thank you!!” to all those people who each Sunday help the children, youth, and adults of our church learn and think more about how God is working in their lives. Whether you teach every week, or teach periodically throughout the year, you are appreciated.

MEN’S BROTHERHOOD

Andrew L’Amour May 2019

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:30-32 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Quote: I never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself. – Florence Nightingale

Men’s Brotherhood Notes: April Meeting The Men's Brotherhood met on the 26th. Our new Scoutmaster, Troy White, attended to talk about the scouting program at our church, which the Men's Brotherhood sponsors. May Meeting is scheduled for May 16.

Prayer Concerns: Pray for the gift of faith. The faith of Christ.

Action: Go forward in faith doing the work of the Lord. If a door opens, walk through it.

Maybe because it is spring, the time for planting seeds and watching them grow. Taking care that they are cultivated properly. Maybe this is why I have been thinking about the mustard seed. The smallest seed, but it grows into the largest of the plants in the garden, capable of supplying a perch for birds to seek shade. I intended to write about that power in the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God, that once it sprouts has the capacity to grow in tremendous proportion to the size it began. This is also true of almost any seed but Jesus uses this seed for two of his parables: Faith and the Kingdom of God. I will deal with Faith this month and the Kingdom of God next month Beginning with faith – Jesus said in Matthew 17:20: “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Where did this faith come from? This power? In Galatians 5:22 the gifts of the Spirit are listed and faith, or faithfulness, is among those gifts. In my old James Moffat Bible that I used for over 30 years with its torn pages, underlined passages and notes I found this scribbling: Faith – reliance on God's word, trusting God to do that which He has not yet done; faith must precede and therefore is a condition to the possession. And from George Mueller: Faith is the assurance that the things God has said in His word are true; and that God will act according to what He has said in His word. This assurance, this reliance on God's word, this confidence is faith. See also Hebrews 11. All of the stories in this chapter had the element of faith, the gift God gave them from the Spirit. They believed and trusted in God that whatever He commanded, they should do; it could be done because of the assurance they had that He was faithful in His word. They were not even aware of what God's immediate reasons were for what they do, but they trusted that He was leading them where they should go. We often think that this faith is our faith. That somehow we have to conjure up this power of assurance in God's word from our own inner weak self. It is not our faith. Praying and praising God, believing in him and accepting the power of the spirit grants us this faith from God. But like anything else we must use it or lose it. Exercising that faith as we do God's will in our treating our fellow brothers and sisters, knowing we are all strangers and exiles on this earth. Imagine the good things we can do in God's name through exercising His gift of faith.

The Boy Scouts Troop 14 will be meeting

on Thursdays through May 30 and will

resume in the fall after school starts.

HY VEE Remember to bring in

your Brookings Hy-Vee receipts.

Goal $150,000.00 Received to Date: $93,414.97

Needed to Date: $56,585.03

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!

" I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts

against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not

do the things that you wish." Galatians 5:17

April 2019

Our thoughts are important to God and to us, because they tell us what our mind is set on. Colossians 3:2 says

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on this earth." We know that the things of this earth are

temporary and will pass away. When I become anxious, I have to remember that He is sovereign over all.

Someone once said, "When the waves are over your head they are always under His feet." What we allow in our

minds is crucial. If we are going to live in the Spirit, we need to take every thought captive to obey Christ, (II

Cor. 10:4-5).

The Lord brought to my mind an inmate, Don (not his real name), who was not coming to church and Bible studies

the last few weeks. He has a job that requires long hours every day. When I saw Don come back from work, I

called him to the office. He was really uptight about everything going on in his life and at work. It was very

plain to me that his mood was not good. Don told me about how he felt that he was overworked and under

paid. He was concerned about his young children back home, even though he knew they were in a safe place

with his mother.

He said, "Pastor Harlan, I almost got in a fight this morning, but something stopped me from going that far. I am

so frustrated over everything. I used to enjoy my job, but now it is a burden. I feel unappreciated at work and I

guess I started feeling sorry for myself. Then I worry about my kids. My anger seems to be boiling within me." I

reminded Don about how Peter was walking on the water as long as he focused on Jesus, but when he started

looking at the waves he began to sink. I mentioned to him that one pastor said, "Feeling sorry for yourself is from

the evil one." Don admitted he was letting little things irritate him and build up into bigger things. Don

acknowledged that he was going to bed angry at night and how his anger was building. I asked him what he

thought he should do about it and he said, "Repent before the Lord", which he did in the office. He was

amazed that I had been praying for him that morning and recognized I needed to call him into the office. I told

him God is always working things out so we can help one another. He left the office with a smile on his face!

God is awesome!

I visited with a middle-aged man who told me this was his first time in prison. He said he was a Christian, but

after visiting with him I recognized his understanding of being a Christian was very shallow. I went over the

gospel by drawing it out on paper for him. He was thankful for more knowledge about the gospel. When I

finished praying with him, he began to weep. He was so thankful for someone to share this with him.

Thank you for your financial support and prayers! I pray you have blessed Easter!

In Christ,

Harlan Moss

When you write your checks, please designate my name in the memo section of your check. Send them to:

South Dakota Prison Chaplain ' s Association (SDPCAl or Prison Lighthouse Fellowship, (PLF), 601 W 57th Street

Sioux Falls, SD 57108 . Your gifts are appreciated and tax deductible. My phone: 605-940-4220 Email :

harlan@convergeheartland.org. My website with testimonies is: convergeheart land.org/ harlan

2017

MAY VOLUNTEERS

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

7:00 Choir (resumes in fall)

BIRTHDAY: Samuel Schuurman

2 9:30 Bible Study 5:15 Deacons Meeting 6:30 Worship Mtg

7:00 Boy Scout Meeting 7:00 Session BIRTHDAYS: Bonnie Foster, Lois Watson

3

BIRTHDAY: Diane Anderson John Peterson

4

5 Confirmation Class

9:00 Sunday School 10:30 Worship Service/Confirmation 11:30 Fellowship Coffee 11:30 CE Committee Meeting 5:00 Choir Party

6

BIRTHDAY: Yossry Rottluff

7 9:30 Coffee Group (Mission Coffee House)

6:30 Mission & Finance

8

BIRTHDAY: Kay Norton

9

9:30 Bible Study 7:00 Boy Scout Meeting

10

11

9:30 Prayer Quilt Sew Day

BIRTHDAY: Bruce Westergaard

12 Dorothy Tufte, ULC Chaplain 9:00 Sunday School 10:30 Worship Service 11:30 Fellowship Coffee 11:30 Worship Committee

13

14 9:30 Coffee Group (Mission Coffee House)

BIRTHDAY: Trent Broksieck

15

Blade Articles Due

BIRTHDAY: Skylar Hinricher

16

9:30 Bible Study

5:30 Men’s Brotherhood

7:00 Boy Scout Meeting

17

BIRTHDAY: Carolyn Moerke

18

19 Elizabeth Fox 9:00 Sunday School (resumes in fall) 10:30 Worship Service 11:30 Fellowship Coffee

20

ANNIVERSARY: Scott & Jennifer Hinricher

21 9:30 Coffee Group (Mission Coffee House)

22

23

9:30 Bible Study 7:00 Boy Scout Meeting

BIRTHDAY: Cliff Rindels

24

25

26 David Peterson 10:00 Worship-Service

11:30 Fellowship Coffee

27 Memorial Day OFFICE CLOSED

BIRTHDAY: Saige Hinricher Adam Young ANNIVERSARY: Dean & Sharon Hofland

28

9:30 Coffee Group (Mission Coffee House)

29 ANNIVERSARY: Dave & Lucy Barkus Bruce & Lori Westergaard

30

9:30 Bible Study

7:00 Boy Scout Meeting (resumes in fall)

31

11:30 Lunch Bunch BIRTHDAY: Lori Westergaard

SOUND: Ginny Conger

USHERS Harold Poppen, Bob Bartling, Bruce Westergaard, Martin & Sally Maca

LEADERS OF CHILDREN’S TIME May 5 Gary Larson Donna Flint May 12 Carrie Van Buren Joel Foster May 19 Jan Jones Bonnie Foster May 26 Donna Flint Gary Larson

SCRIPTURE READERS May 5 Confirmands Donna Flint May 12 Andrew L’Amour Joel Foster May 19 Mike McCann Bonnie Foster May 26 Andrew L’Amour Gary Larson

First Presbyterian Church

405 7th Avenue

Brookings, SD 57006-2018

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contact the church office at presby@brookings.net or 692-2416.

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